St. John’s Brett Budgell in QMJHL

St. John’s native Brett Budgell is not letting being overlooked in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft deter his love for the game. Budgell has returned to the QMJHL, taking up his position with the Charlottetown Islanders.

After finishing the 2018-19 QMJHL season with 33 point (18G/15A) and a plus 10 rating, Budgell was seen as an outside chance during the draft to make the NHL in the draft.

In returning to the QMJHL in his final year of eligibility, Budgell is hoping to fine tune his game and make the step to the big leagues. Being overlooked has been motivational.

Budgell is making the most of his time in the QMJHL with the Islanders. He’s racked up 11 points (5G/6A) in 13 games so far this season as a left winger for Charlottetown.

Scouts who looked at Budgell have indiated he’s a wing with a solid compete level.  They have indicated that he lvoes battling hard one scrum after another, and gets bigger players off the puck with body leverage and work ethic.  Scouts have indicated that he is a smart player who finds the creases to be open for outlet passes.   He has been noted to moves to the front rapidly and is always looking to throw off the goalies.   While noted to be somewhat small, at just 18 years of age, he will get bigger and gain leg strength which will enrich the physical aspects to the game that he already applies.

Photo courtesy The Guardian/Jason Malloy